Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov to start Friday amid charges

Nov. 1, 2013
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Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, standing between his attorney Jack Rotole, left, and a Russian interpreter, appears in court in Denver on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013. Varlamov will be able to travel with the team while prosecutors consider whether he should be charged with assaulting his girlfriend. On Thursday, a judge said Varlamov could be released if he posted $5,000 bond and be allowed to travel with the team but he was ordered to stay away from his girlfriend, among other restrictions. / RJ Sangosti, AP

"Why wait?" Avs coach Patrick Roy said after the morning skate, according to The Denver Post. "We're all aware of what happened, but we just feel that he's our guy. We have confidence in him and feel that it's good for him to play tonight."

Varlamov turned himself in Wednesday evening and spent the night in jail.

According to the police report, Varlamov allegedly kicked Vavrinyuk, stomped on her, dragged her around the house and threatened her. The woman had bruises consistent with a physical encounter, the police report said. He was released on $5,000 bond.

Varlamov, 25, is 7-1 with a 1.76 goals-against average and .945 save percentage as the Avs are off to a 10-1 start. He has played in the NHL for five seasons, and the Avs picked him up in July 2011 after a trade with the Washington Capitals.

"We just want Varly to go out there and play his game," Roy said, according to The Denver Post.

After Friday night's game, the Avs play again Saturday at home against Montreal (8 p.m.). It is Colorado's first back-to-back series of the season. Backup goalie Jean-Sebastian Giguere, who was expected to play Friday, is slated to start Saturday against the Canadiens.

Varlamov did not speak to the media Friday, which is common for a starting goaltender on game day. The Denver Post reports that he is expected to speak to the media after the game. It would be the first time he's spoken publicly since the arrest.